Hormones Essential to Healthy Life

by Kevin Smith Author

Hormones are essential to not only to maintaining a healthy life but are critical to the formation of life and the wonders of the human body. The chemicals in hormones direct human development from conception through infancy, on through childhood to adolescence, and then on into adulthood and old age. Throughout one’s life hormones coordinate all bodily systems to hopefully function properly, as well to repair damaged cells that cause illness. For people in ill health, once routine illnesses are ruled out, if the general unhealthiness prevails, it is recommended they have their hormone level’s tested, which can be done at medical facilities specializing in bioidentical hormones in Plano.

It All Starts in the Brain

From the brain, signals are sent through the endocrine system to the many glands in the human body. From the glands, hormones are secreted into the bloodstream. As hormones circulate through the bloodstream, they search for target cells where they can perform certain functions. These target cells have receptors and send out signals to attract certain hormones. Once the specific hormones attach to the target cell, a biological reaction is set in motion.

Ovaries are sexual glands in females. They produce two things, the hormone estrogen and eggs which when fertilize produce human life. Testes are the glands of the male. They produce two things as well, the hormone testosterone and sperm which can fertilize the eggs to produce human life. Estrogen directs the development of female physical and sexual characteristics. Testosterone directs the development of male physical and sexual characteristics. For example, when a boy ages into puberty he will develop muscle mass and facial hair.

In both men and women, the thyroid gland secretes the hormones thyroxine/T_4, triiodothyronine/T₃, and calcitonin. These hormones influence a person’s metabolism among other things. The pituitary gland regulates the dispersion of these hormones which are produced by the hypothalamus. But when things go awry, and too many thyroid hormones are produced, Grave’s disease, an autoimmune disorder, is the result. The other side of the coin is if not enough thyroid hormones are produced, hypothyroidism is the result. This leads to an iodine deficiency which can lead to intellectual disability.

In Conclusion

Hormones are essential to life and optimal health. For people with prolonged health problems, one solution may be to correct a hormonal imbalance at a medical facility specializing in bioidentical hormones in Plano.